The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-09
TWO WILD MEN
Found ON an I.iand In Georgia.

ATLANTA, Ga, September 4.--The
Columbus Enquirer-Sun of to-day prints
in its news columns remarkable story OF
the discovery on Hermit Island, In the
Chattahootchee River of two strange hu.
man beings, who are believed ~ have
been fugitive slaves.
"Mr +. G. Moultrie and the writer"
says the Enquirer.Sun, "took guns and
went down In some woods opposite the
island squirrel shooting. After brief
rest we set out to explore the island. All
around the island near the shore was
rocky cliff, with here and there rough
cedar clinging in the cpvices of the
rocks, from whose branches hung the
long white river moss. In the interior
the surface sank into q low, Rat land,
covered with tall white oaks and occasion
al patches of low shrubbery.
In these trees we found our game.
One shot from my companions gun
brought ..rel TO the ground, imme-
diately followed by two black, naked oh.
jects bearing the outward semblance of
human beings, they ran, bent low, at al.
most lightning speed and disappeared
over the little mound some three hundred
yards away. In an hour we had been to
camp, collected our little band of half Q
dozen, and with guns and dogs captured
the half starved, naked savages. They
retreated 10 their den under protruding
rock, and when surrounded by men and
dogs surrendered, with no resistance.
They fell upon their faces and whined
piteously, as II to beg for mercy, but
uttering no word that was Ineligible.
Indeed, no word from them has yet been
understood except the word "dog," which
they pronounce with distinctness.
Their fear of the dog almost APP
proaches madness. They converse together
in monosyllables of an unknown tongue.
Their den was under a ledge of rock and
was sheltered from wind and rain. No
indication of fire was seen in or about
the place. The only sign of habitation
was pile of straw, leaves and moss in
the den, and bones OF varmints scattered
about, IL is supposed that the meat WAS
eaten raw. The men were perfectly nude,
except u thin coat of hair, which nature
has furnished since their Punishment.
They stand and walk half bent, as ii
creeping to their prey. fhe larger one
of them is tall and muscular. He seems
about forty-fvc or fifty years old. The
other is small, thin and bony, and has
doubtless reached his three score and ten.
The nails and teeth of both have grown
long and hooked, so that they find no
difficulty in tearing the flesh from car
cass. With their long and brawny arms
they can hur stone with as much &C
curacy as the ritlcman shoots his rife,
There is but one theory as to why this
barbarism exists on Hermit Island, and
that is that the negroes, during the time
of slavery, sought this as a place of re-
fuge from their masters. That they
have never left the Island since their
first advent is almost certain, since they
would in such case provide themselves
with fire and means TO obtain food. But
how did they get there? is a question
unanswered. Certainly not as we did, for
the fall is receding, and has been in con-
tact with the tunnel only a few years,
while these negroes have been on the
Island not less than twenty-five years.
No effort was ever made by white men to
reach the place. On account Of its rocky
barren appearance it was not supposed
to be tillable.